Jazz sign Ahearn to 10-day contract

SALT LAKE CITY — Injuries to Earl Watson and C.J. Miles forced the Utah Jazz to what Kevin O'Connor refers to as an "emergency list."

Topping that list: combo guard Blake Ahearn.

As such, the Jazz signed the D-League's leading scorer to a 10-day contract. The 6-3 sharpshooter will join the team for today's practice and be available to play beginning Wednesday in Houston.

General manager Kevin O'Connor said the Jazz like that Ahearn can shoot the ball and that the 27-year-old has professional experience.

Ahearn led the D-League with 23.8 points per game, which included 40-percent shooting from 3-point range and a sizzling 96-percet clip from the free-throw line.

"He can really shoot the basketball," Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said. "He can set the offense. He can space the floor. . . . We need perimeter shooting and he'll be able to help us there."

Ahearn, a Missouri State product, has had professional stops in the NBA (15 games with Spurs and Heat) and spent five years in the D-League.

This past season, he set a record by hitting 110 consecutive free throws with the Reno Bighorns.

"He can put it in the hole," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of Ahearn, who played for him for a month in 2008. "I really enjoyed him. . . . He has as good feel for the game, and he can shoot an open shot. I think he's a good player and deserves to be in the league."

— Jody Genessy

Jazz sign Ahearn to 10-day contract

SALT LAKE CITY — Injuries to Earl Watson and C.J. Miles forced the Utah Jazz to what Kevin O'Connor refers to as an "emergency list."

Topping that list: combo guard Blake Ahearn.

As such, the Jazz signed the D-League's leading scorer to a 10-day contract. The 6-3 sharpshooter will join the team for today's practice and be available to play beginning Wednesday in Houston.

General manager Kevin O'Connor said the Jazz like that Ahearn can shoot the ball and that the 27-year-old has professional experience.

Ahearn led the D-League with 23.8 points per game, which included 40-percent shooting from 3-point range and a sizzling 96-percent clip from the free-throw line.

"He can really shoot the basketball," Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said. "He can set the offense. He can space the floor. … We need perimeter shooting and he'll be able to help us there."

Ahearn, a Missouri State product, has had professional stops in the NBA (15 games with Spurs and Heat) and spent five years in the D-League.

This past season, he set a record by hitting 110 consecutive free throws with the Reno Bighorns.

"He can put it in the hole," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of Ahearn, who played for him for a month in 2008. "I really enjoyed him. … He has as good feel for the game, and he can shoot an open shot. I think he's a good player and deserves to be in the league."